Leisun, a variety of bamboo shoots produced in Xikou town and Xiaowangmiao sub-district in Ningbo's Fenghua district. [Photo/WeChat account: nbfb0574]

It is now the best time to savor leisun, a variety of bamboo shoots produced in Xikou town and Xiaowangmiao sub-district in Ningbo's Fenghua district.

Leisun has been designated a national GI product. GI is a label given to products that have a specific geographic origin and possess certain qualities or a strong reputation related to that origin.

The bamboo shoots now taste juicy and tender. Their retail price ranges from 32 yuan ($4.92) to 50 yuan per kilogram, lower than those produced from outside the city, according a vendor at the Zhangbinqiao grocery market.

The price is expected to surge to some extent before the Spring Festival holiday, with the gradual slowdown in production.

As a winter vegetable, leisun is greatly favored by local residents from the city, with braising bamboo shoots their preferred choice.